Trump taps 'Apprentice' producer, Mark Burnett, as special envoy to the United Kingdom
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Mark Burnett, the power producer who helped reintroduce Donald Trump to a national television audience with "The Apprentice," is being tapped by the president-elect as special envoy to the United Kingdom in his upcoming administration. Trump announced Saturday that "with a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role." Burnett, who was born in London, helped produce hits like "Survivor" and "The Voice," but is perhaps best known for teaming up with Trump for "The Apprentice," which first aired on NBC in 2004.
Blake Lively accuses 'It Ends With Us' director Justin Baldoni of harassment and smear campaign
Blake Lively has accused her "It Ends With Us" director and co-star Justin Baldoni of sexual harassment on the set of the movie and a subsequent effort to "destroy" her reputation in a legal complaint. The complaint obtained by The Associated Press precedes a lawsuit. The New York Times reported it was filed Friday with the California Civil Rights Department. It names Baldoni, the studio behind "It Ends With Us" and Baldoni's publicists among the defendants. An attorney for Baldoni and the studio called the claims "completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious." "It Ends With Us" was released in August and is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover's bestselling 2016 romance novel.
Santa Claus joins sharks for a holiday swim at a Rio de Janeiro aquarium
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) -- Santa Claus has arrived in Rio de Janeiro -- under water. Starting on Saturday, he'll be spotted at AquaRio Marine Aquarium swimming with sharks during their daily fish feeding sessions as part of the city's Christmas festivities. Nine-year-old Guilherme Martins Matos said he'd seen Santa -- or at least an impersonator -- at the mall. That was cool, he said, but this was better. "Imagine him under water feeding the fish? It's even cooler," Guilherme told The Associated Press. What began as a joke among staff has become an annual tradition.
It's eggnog season. The boozy beverage dates back to medieval England but remains a holiday hit
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- It's eggnog season. At Scoma's Restaurant in San Francisco, this holiday's batch of eggnog began 11 months ago. Nearly a thousand egg yolks, gallons upon gallons of heavy cream and roughly $1,000 worth of vanilla beans come together with sugar and a mega-cocktail of sherry, brandy and aged rum. Eggnog's roots date back to medieval England and a drink called "posset," which included hot milk or cream, alcohol and spices. Recipes have evolved in the centuries since then, but some remain secret. Like the formula for the famous eggnog daiquiri at Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop in New Orleans.
'Gravy Day' is an Australian tradition inspired by an unlikely Christmas song by Paul Kelly
NEW YORK (AP) -- December 21 isn't just four days before Christmas for many in Australia. It's "Gravy Day," inspired by one of the most unlikely Christmas songs ever written. Singer Paul Kelly's 1996 composition "How to Make Gravy" is one of that country's most popular holiday songs, even though its setting is a letter written from a prison inmate to his brother, ostensibly to pass along a recipe for the family's Christmas dinner. In the lyrics, the narrator is writing on the 21st of December -- now "Gravy Day." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned "Gravy Day" this week in his explanation for releasing five drug smugglers who had been in prison for nearly two decades.
Baby pigs get Christmas pardon from Florida mayor in a Cuban twist on White House turkey tradition
MIAMI (AP) -- Two little piggies will not become Christmas Eve roast pork thanks to a holiday pardon they received from a Florida mayor. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava pardoned the 4-month-old pigs, Glinda and Elphaba. The ceremony was held Friday in downtown Miami. It is a seven-year riff on the president pardoning two turkeys at Thanksgiving. Cubans both on the island and in Miami traditionally barbecue whole pigs for Christmas Eve dinner. Glinda and Elphaba didn't seem too interested in Friday's ceremony, instead hogging down apple and orange slices. They will spend the rest of their 12 to 15 years at an animal sanctuary near Miami.
All Netflix wants for Christmas is no streaming problems for its first NFL games
Netflix is planning to provide plenty of gifts for viewers of its two Christmas Day games, including Mariah Carey kicking it all off with a taped performance of "All I Want for Christmas is You." Yet, Netflix executive Brandon Riegg realizes it all amounts to a lump of coal if there are streaming problems. Riegg has had to answer plenty of questions about the streaming giant's readiness for the influx of viewers on what could be its biggest day ever, especially after streaming problems during the Nov. 14 fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson. Netflix has two games Wednesday, starting with a two-hour pregame before the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Kansas City Chiefs. The second game is between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.
Starbucks workers begin strikes that could spread to hundreds of US stores by Christmas Eve
Workers at U.S. Starbucks stores have begun a five-day strike to protest a lack of progress in contract negotiations with the company. The strikes began in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle and could spread to hundreds of stores across the country by Christmas Eve. Workers at 535 of the 10,000 company-owned Starbucks stores in the U.S. have voted to unionize. The Starbucks Workers United union accuses the Seattle-based coffeehouse chain of failing to honor a commitment made in February to reach a labor agreement this year. Starbucks says the union prematurely left the bargaining table this week. It said Friday there's been no significant impact to store operations.
Former NFL star Michael Vick officially hired by Norfolk State on Friday
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- Norfolk State has officially named Michael Vick its head football coach, the latest hire of a talented NFL player with no college coaching experience to lead an HBCU program. Vick's addition was unanimously approved by the school's board of visitors, Norfolk State athletic director Melody Webb said in a release from the university. Vick said he was humbled by the opportunity to take over and revive the football program. The school will introduce Vick on campus Monday. It's release never mentioned Vick's time in federal prison after pleading guilty to his involvement in a dogfighting ring.